IF NOTHING'S FISHY, NORWEGIANS MIGHT JOIN THE

UNCLAS OSLO 000330

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT EAID ECIN ECON EFIS MARR MASS MCAP MOPS
PHSA, PINS, PREL, SENV, SNAR, ASEC, SMIG, NO
SUBJECT: IF NOTHING'S FISHY, NORWEGIANS MIGHT JOIN THE
GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP

REF: SECSTATE 50488


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Representatives from the Norwegian Ministry
of Trade gave a cautious though positive reception to the
idea of membership in the Global Maritime Partnership (GMP).
A further response will be forthcoming from the GON after a
July 1 interagency meeting. Rather than an unqualified
"yes," the initial Norwegian response was tempered by a
characteristic desire to not disempower already-existing
formal multilateral institutions. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff met with Leif Asbjorn Nygaard, Director
General of the Maritime Division of the Ministry of Trade and
Economy, and his Senior Advisor, Charlotte Strom. In an
hour-long preliminary discussion of the GMP, Nygaard
noncommittally expressed interest.

The Importance of Appearances


3. (SBU) Nygaard shared what he perceived to be our concern
about maritime security. He said he supported US initiatives
in this regard, and emphasized that he realized there was a
threat "to all NATO countries": a threat to which GMP may be
one appropriate response. Nygaard differentiated between
substantive barriers to bad actors, and "visible" barriers,
into which he grouped political collective action such as the
GMP. As for whether Norway would join the GMP, Nygaard said
that assuming the MFA, after analysis, concluded that the GMP
would do no harm, he could not foresee why Norway would not
join. Poloff throughout the discussion emphasized that the
GMP was not just a security concept, but Nygaard repeatedly
returned to the maritime security theme.

Critical Mass is Crucial


4. (SBU) Speaking "frankly," Nygaard said that in order to
join the GMP, Norway would have to be convinced that the idea
had a critical mass of acceptance. He warned Poloff that the
GON would be cautious to avoid a process where international
cooperation is taken out of formal institutions, such as the
IMO.

Norway's Biggest Concerns


5. (SBU) When asked specifically about possible areas of
cooperation or at least concern for Norwegian shipping that
the GMP could potentially address, Nygaard gave a list that
seemed colored by his position in the Trade and Economy
Ministry. The list comprised: (1) tax policy, (2) problems
with recruiting and crewing, (3) environmental issues,
especially global warming. In addition, Nygaard mentioned
several bilateral issues with the US, including rules about
nationality on US LNG ships, which he characterized as
protectionist, and the difficulty Norwegian seamen have
disembarking in the US. Nygaard expressed hope that the GMP
might possibly provide a "forum" in which to discuss those
issues as well.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The US will have to wait until a formal
decision from the Norwegian interagency process to fully know
the extent of the GON's interest in GMP membership. Poloff's
meeting with the Ministry of Trade was characterized by
caution, although this might have been due to our
interlocutor's uncertainty about how the GMP would serve
Norway's interests better than existing institutions.
Norway's fear of weakening formal multilateral institutions
is thoroughly characteristic and often makes for a barrier to
any international agreement that has a whiff of bilaterality.
That said, none of the GMP principles articulated in reftel
had the Norwegians turning up their noses at something fishy.
End comment.
WHITNEY